KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in northeastern Panjshir province report that Taliban authorities have detained five of their members for attending a wedding ceremony where music was played.
Speaking with KabulNow today, the sources said the detained individuals are members of the Taliban police in Panjshir and were arrested in Dara district last week.
According to local sources, the individuals attended the wedding ceremony in the district and were detained the following day in the area.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed strict bans on music at weddings and other public events, deeming it “un-Islamic.” Those who violate the bans face arrests, fines, and, in some cases, torture.
A month ago, local sources reported that the Taliban morality police raided a wedding in Badakhshan province after music was played at the event, injuring a teenage girl and an elderly man. They also fined the groom around AFN 30,000 ($450) for allowing music at the ceremony.
However, in some cases, local Taliban authorities have reportedly demanded money in exchange for allowing music to be played at wedding ceremonies or other gatherings.
Last year, local sources in western Herat province reported that local Taliban authorities demanded between $100 and $600 from wedding organizers in exchange for permitting music to be played during the event.
Similarly, Homeira Qaderi, a writer and human rights advocate, wrote on X last year that the Taliban charged 1,000 Afghanis ($15) for each hour of music played at her relative’s wedding in Herat province.
The Taliban has imposed severe restrictions on musicians and artists, causing many to flee the country for safety. Those who remain face the risk of intimidation, abuse, torture, and even death.
The regime has also seized and publicly burned thousands of musical instruments, deeming them un-Islamic, and banned TV and radio stations from broadcasting music.
